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Summary: A Sonata for the Imagination
Review: Anyone who has ever read a book by J. California Cooper knows just how talented she is. Her lyrical style is like music for the eyes.The Wake of the Wind is sonata for the imagination.
The beginning is the allegro, richly weaving a tale of slavery. It manages to cresendo into the horrors of humanity being snatched from freedom, and lead into a life of misery. Like all good allegroes it builds upon the mode of slavery to the lives of Mor and Lifee, who quickly become close to the reader.
Then, the movement slows into the story of Mor and Lifee's trials on the road of freedom, and the birth of their children. While this part is still dramatic, it carries the subtleties of everyday life, which makes it suitable to follow the allegro.
We meet new characters, yet the tale never becomes crowded. Cooper does an excellent job at making the reader care about them all.
Finally, a rondo bursts forth carrying the reader into the joy of new love, sucess, and the changes that Mor and Lifee's family face. This part of the book is like a dance. There is more joy than sorrow, yet the hardships that do come up are very real.
Still, the reader is left with a feeling of hope. The tale comes to an end and the reader is left inspired to rush towards the future. The Wake of the Wind truly is a sonata, and don't all good sonata's leave you full, but searching for more?
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Summary: EXCELLENT TALE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY!
Review: I am absolutely intrigued by this profound historical novel that depicts the life and times of Lifee and Mor during and after slavery. This is probably the best fiction novel about the effects of slavery that I have read to date! Although the novel begins in the time of slavery, it is not just about that. It also tells how two strong, triumphant characters, Mor and Lifee, rose above the effects of slavery after being freed, and established a legacy of their own for their family and ancestors. Mor, is the strong male character, who is joined with Lifee, the strong-willed, virtuous female character, through slavery. After being freed, these two set off to start a life of their own. The characters showed what lovingkindness is all about as they openly embraced other freed slaves as themselves who needed help, and helped build a family. It makes me proud to know that in those times black people openly helped one another and treated everyone like family. Together, Lifee, Mor, and the rest of the family endured. This is a must read!!
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Summary: review of The Wake of the Wind
Review: I enjoyed this book very much from the beginning to the end. The reason why I like The Wake of the Wind is because it had a lot to do with my ancestors who fought, died, and continued to keep faith in themselves and most importantly God. I think it's very important to raise your children and discipline them and teach them how to become a better man and woman. It was very hard to read this book at a certain point when there were black people getting killed by people who hated our color for no reason. To me personally I don't think they know why they really hate. The devil is every where. Another reason why enjoyed this book was their were vocabulary words that I learn from the book and not only that I can be able to advance my skills more by reading Ms. cooper books and others. She is a very great writer and I will continue to buy her books. This is my first time reading your book and I will keep reading and learning. I, as well working on my writing as a journalist. Keep up the good work.
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Summary: You haven't read a book till you've read this 1!!
Review: I finished this book some time ago and realized I didn't write a review about it. I enjoyed this book so much I tell every person I know who can read about it! The story of Mor and Liffee was exceptional. If I have kids I will have them read it so they can pattern themselves after those 2 strong characters. I liked how in the story the 2 relied on each other for everything. The book was graphic in its depiction but it was done in such a way that I could stand. Another book I read shortly after this was CANE RIVER. A good book but it was no WAKE OF THE WIND. It's probably one of the best books I've read.
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Summary: wonderful
Review: I read this book a loooooongg time ago! But I still remember how much I liked it. Maybe one of these days I'll read it again, who knows? All I know for sure is that YOU need to read this book.
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Summary: Great book
Review: I wish I had read this book a long time ago. This book was such an inspiration to me. It makes me see things in a different perspective. It teaches you about life, saving up for your future and how important an education is. I look J. Californa Cooper. She is truly one of a kind. Everybody needs to read this book.
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Summary: Poignant and Riveting!
Review: J. California Cooper is an excellent writer my only disappointment is that I didn't discover her books until this year. Cooper is known primarily for short stories but the Wake of the Wind is a novel and although she's writing out of her element/norm, the Wake of the Wind is still a well-written and compelling read.
The novel takes place in the period just after the Civil War. Lifee and her husband Mor search for land they can own and on which they can raise a family. As with any story dealing with slavery, racism, prejudice and events at the end of the 1800s that impacted African Americans, the Wake of the Wind can be a riveting and heartwrenching read. However, the reader is compelled to finish the story because of the life lessons that Lifee and Mor teach us. We learn that education is the key to survival/success, that with love and support we can survive enormous obstacles, that Black family unity and Black love do exist and that its important to pass on these values to our kids. The Wake of the Wind was a heartwarming, hard to put down, passionate story about love for spouse, children and community. As always, Cooper manages to enlighten, educate and entertain with her writing style.
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Summary: Excellent!!!! A MUST READ
Review: J.California Cooper has done it again. Wake of the Wind was a very moving book. The setting was in the Civil War era (abolishing slavery). I felt as if I knew Life and Mor, their stuggles as well has their happiness. As if they were my ancestors. Once I finished reading this book I did a reality check on all of the African-Americans who died during slavery so that I could be where I am today. It touched my heart as well as my soul. I love all of J.C Cooper's work and I am die hard fan. If you like this book you will like Family, In Search of Satisfaction - all of her books really. I am waiting patiently on her next book whenever that may be.. J. California Cooper keep the books coming....
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Summary: Why is it that some people just don't get it?
Review: Lord some people just don't get it. You have to be a JC fan to understand her books. you need to meet her and talk with her and listen to her talk to understand that this book "the Wake of the Wind" is by far the best book I think she has ever written. the charcters were so real, the story so gripping. I read a lot and I must say that this book depicts the best story (fiction) of slaves that I have ever read. Please, don't let Ms. Lorinelson discourage you from picking this up this book. that was only one person's opinion. Please form your own opinion by reading this book yourself. I've read it twice. Read it from the very first pages the author's note and so forth. Just give it a chance, JC will capture your imagination.
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Summary: Repetitive, repetitive, and, wait... did I say repetitive?
Review: Okay, a friend of mine gave me this book about two years ago. He said it was the best book he had ever read. Two years ago, I started to read it and then life got in the way and I had to put it down. At that time, I thought the book was kind of slow in getting started, but I figured I hadn't read enough to get into the "meat of the story" so I decided to give it another chance. So here it is, two years later, and I have to say, that I really, really did NOT like this book! Having said that, I must admit it was not the storyline so much, as it was the writing style that turned me off. I loved the basic premise of the story and I think it is a story that should be heard, especially by young Black people today. It is about overcoming obstacles, never letting yourself believe that you can't do better or achieve greatness. It is about spending your time on working for a dream rather than making up excuses as to why it can't be done. It's about not being satisfied with just living. It's about working for a goal and helping others. There are many principles in the book that children should learn and learn early. For that reason, I give the book two stars - and only for that reason. However, the way Cooper writes (at least in this book, I have not read any of her other books) was downright insulting. Because I liked the basic story, I found myself wishing that someone else had told it. First of all, the book could have been half of the size it was. She repeated everything she said over and over and over again as if the reader did not get it the first time. For example, I was so sick of Mema saying, "I needs me a fambly...I'm so glad I gots me a fambly...Yall's my fambly now...". And that's just one example. There are many, many more instances where she repeats herself, so much that I thought I was reading a part of the book over and had to check my page number. Which brings me to another point. Her character portrayal was extremely underdeveloped and one-sided. While, I'm sure that Mema wanted a family, I'm sure she also had other fears and worries and layers to her personality that Cooper chose to ignore. All you ever really knew about Abby was that she wanted her own house to raise her children in. Even Mor and Lifee, the main characters, were way too perfect. They never did ANYTHING even slightly wrong (or human) throughout the whole book. They ALWAYS said the right things, ALWAYS responded correctly, NEVER made any mistakes. All of the people that they helped were perfect, except in one chapter, and those people were sooooo awful that it was comical (although I think it was intended to be comical). But it proves another point. All of the main characters were either all horribly and awfully bad or all "Mother-Theresa-good". And human beings are not like that. There were no layers to these people?s characters. I can see why other reviewers have said that Cooper sounded a little too preachy in this novel. She could have used her pages better by spending more time developing the other characters and less time repeating herself. The other thing that I found unbelievable was that all of the characters seemed to get married to the first person they ever fell in love with. Well, I guess it shouldn't be unbelievable because that person was inevitably perfect too. Maybe it was like that back in that time, I don't know, but it is just another thing that just seemed too perfect. Well, I can?t say if I would or would not recommend this book, because as I said before the message of the book is very good and I really think the ?moral of the story?, as they say, is a very good one that all people should be reminded of. Maybe I would just tell someone about it and save them the chore of reading it.
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